THE

C O M M UN
- ICATION
ISSUE
 WELCOME
Welcome to the Blanket
communication issue. It’s an
important issue for us and one we
REALLY hope you enjoy. It’s all about
that thing we have to do everyday
as artists/designers/photographers/
crafters… TALK to our audience
in our own personal medium to
communicate our feelings, our
thoughts, our ideas. It’s all about
being open and unafraid: in art
AND in life.
And on that note… (yep, it’s a
seamless segue) I have some
important Blanket stuff that I want to
tell you about… And I have to admit,
the prospect has me both excited and
terrified; I’ve been struggling with the
right words for weeks!
But, it’s time to pluck up my
courage. It’s time to tell you about
some big changes that are coming.
And I’m going to tell you the best
way I know how: in this beautiful
magazine that we all work so hard on.
So turn to page 9 and let’s get it all
out in the open!
Bec
uncovering your creativity
editor@blanketmagazine.com

1 2
blanket magazine
Bec Brown
Inspiration

Cover image: Will Bryant

(check out our Transfer Interview with Will on pg 61)
Here’s my work feature artist: Alexey Durasov
 CONTENTS
1-2 Welcome 3-4 Contents 5-6-7
Contributors 8 NEW! The Blanket
Playlist... 9-10 Dear Blanket Readers
An open letter from Bec 11-14 Craft
with Jek! We communicate old
school! 15-22 Here’s my work... I
hope you like it Our readers show
us their work 23-26 Chain of Fools
Jon dissects the pros and cons of
chain letters... 27-44 Re_action:
COMMUNICATION See how our
readers reacted to our theme! 45-56
The Art of Communication How do
you communicate with an audience you
don’t know? 57-64 Here’s my work...
I hope you like it Our readers show
us their work 65-70 Transfer: Will
Bryant We interview our cover artist for
this issue 71-76 Pass It On Project: A
selection of artists collaborate to create
a piece of art 77-82 Transfer: Betsy
Walton An interview with this amazing
Illustrator/Artist 83-90 Here’s my
work... I hope you like it Our readers
show us their work 91-96 Transfer:
Coralie Bickford-Smith Communication
through book covers 97-100 Transfer:
Alvaro Sanchez An interview with a
Blanket re_action contributor! 101-110

ABCDEFGHI Here’s my work... I hope you like it

Our readers show us their work 111-
112 Craft-E Our favourite Bloggers!
JKLMNOPQ 113-116 Web_sight Dave looks at
communication on the web 117-118
RSTUVWXYZ NEW! Blanket ‘Pik Shaws’ comic 119
Blanket Classified Ads Now clickable!
Blanket Font for this issue: 120-124 NEW! I’m a Showoff! A
‘Heavy Lou Edge’ by Manueal Viergutz. brand new advertising initiative 125-
Find it here: 126 Next issue Find out how you can
contribute to our next issue. The theme:
http://fontstruct.fontshop.com/ PORTRAIT 127-128 Thankyou A list
fontstructors/em_vii of all who made this issue possible
Do you have a font you have made and
3 4 would like it considered for the next
Blanket issue?
blanket magazine
Sudeep
Cristina Lingamneni

Send a PDF example to:

editor@blanketmagazine.com
Amodeo

Re_action feature artist: Cristina Amodeo

 CONTRIBUTORS

CAITLIN GAHAN
Assistant Editor
What was the last object
you used to communicate
to someone?
My ever trusty and always
charged mobile phone.
What did you communicate?
How pretty that person looked
as they drove past me in
their car!
What is your preferred
method of communication?
Oh, it’s always, always going
to be a text message on my
mobile phone. How lovely
does it feel when you hear that
little “ding ding” (or whatever
your ringtone is!) that tells you
someone has been thinking
about you. Bliss...
Communicate in one word
what art means to you?
Connection
JOHN FRY
Blanket Website Designer
What was the last object
you used to communicate
to someone?
Through a microphone at
work (teaching Graphic Design
to students) up on my little
stage... its all about the
power baby!
What did you communicate?
I was telling the students all
about getting a design job and
what employers are looking for.
They are all working on their
portfolios at the moment and
I’m about to send them out
into the big, bad world.
What is your preferred
method of communication?
Interpretive Dance... ever since
Sunday School when I saw
someone communicate SO
much with just a few, dodgy
80’s dance moves and mime.
I was hooked. I still haven’t
worked out how to do lectures
just with dance but it’s a
worthy goal to aim for I think.
JONATHAN HULME
Feature Writer
What was the last object
you used to communicate
to someone?
My computer using gmail chat.
What did you communicate?
In the middle of a serious chat,
I was annoying my friend about
my hatred of emoticons by
creating one of my own:
x+_>] which stands for
“I hate emoticons”
What is your preferred
method of communication?
I like yelling at people. Nah,
not really. A face to face
chat over a cup of tea is nice
although I have to profess my
hatred of phones. My mobile
phone is nothing more than an
expensive clock in my eyes.
Communicate in one word
what art means to you?
x+_>]
JESSICA WILSON
Craft Writer
What was the last object
you used to communicate
to someone?
The arms attached to my
person
What did you communicate?
Appreciation, lurve and
fondness
What is your preferred
method of communication?
Baked goods
Communicate in one word
what art means to you?
Eudaemonic
5 6
c
LINDSAY GREEN
Writer
What was the last object
you used to communicate
to someone?
My mouth!
What did you communicate?
That my petrol came from
pump number one and I
would also like this bottle of
water please.
What is your preferred
method of communication?
Interpretive dance
Communicate in one word
what art means to you?
Emotion
blanket magazine
DAVID SELF
Web_sight Writer
What was the last object
you used to communicate
to someone?
Digsby. It’s a neat little program
that supports MSN, AIM,
Facebook, Myspace and
web-based email accounts
all in one window.
What did you communicate?
Things I’d rather be doing than
work - sleeping, playing Rock
Band, sipping a cocktail, baking
cookies, driving to the beach...
What is your preferred
method of communication?
I’m a fan of every method in
different situations. Online
chat, forums, email, text
messaging, phone calls,
letters, postcards, coffee shop
conversations, semaphore,
smoke signals, morse code,
telegram, strippogram,
gorillagram... they all have
their place.
Communicate in one word
MELISSA GARDNER
Designer
What was the last object
you used to communicate
to someone?
My computer
What did you communicate?
The plan for the evening.
What is your preferred
method of communication?
Online - skype, ichat, twitter,
facebook, blogs, flickr... and
the list is growing!
Communicate in one word
what art means to you?
Inspiration
DREW FELLOWS
Designer
What was the last object
you used to communicate
to someone?
Twitter. It’s an incredible thing.
You spend your days talking
in short sharp bursts to people
from around the globe about
useless things that don’t
matter.
What did you communicate?
How I felt about the latest
Placebo single. (It’s quite good
if you’re interested)
What is your preferred
method of communication?
I am a digital junkie. I must
have ichat, msn, twitter and
facebook all running, all day....
I know... its shameful. I’m
trying to find help.
Communicate in one word
what art means to you?
Freedom

what art means to you?

o

Communicate in one word Breathtaking

n

what art means to you?

t r i b u t ors

Passion

CONTRIBUTORS
WILL BRYANT
Blanket Cover Artist
What was the last object
you used to communicate
to someone?
Besides hollerin’ at my wife
in my redneck voice? It was
an e-mail.
What did you communicate?
In the redneck voice, “I can
do what I want, baaaybee.
It’s my life!” This was a joke.
The e-mail was under the table
business... sorry confidential
information.
What is your preferred
method of communication?
Real life conversation is the
best. Preferably in a place with
a pleasurable atmosphere and
a refreshing beverage. I much
prefer e-mail over the phone.
I can get things done with
e-mail.
Communicate in one word
what art means to you?
Magnetism
THE BLANKET PLAYLIST
HERE COME THE GIRLS...THE MUSIC BEHIND THIS ISSUE OF BLANKET...
I listen to a huge amount of music each time I put together an issue of Blanket so I thought I would share some of the
latest artists featured on my playlist... I’m going through a girl phase... Bec x
SANTIGOLD - SANTOGOLD (That’s not a typo - she’s just changed the spelling of her name)
American songwriter, producer and singer.
Good to listen to when: You’re running late for an appointment, you need an upper when you’re
on a downer, you want to look cool.
Listen here: www.myspace.com/santigold
HOLLY THROSBY - A LOUD CALL LP (2008)
Australian singer/songwriter.
Good to listen to when: You’re in love (or you want to be), it’s raining outside and you are
Manuel Viergutz Jeff Stephens Claire Cimbora
staring out the window contemplating life, you’re knitting in a rocking chair, you’re missing home
Blanket Type Designer Blanket Comic Designer Illustrator (or maybe that’s just me?).
What was the last object What was the last object What was the last object Listen here: www.myspace.com/hollythrosby
you used to communicate you used to communicate you used to communicate
to someone? to someone? to someone? Visit here: www.hollythrosby.com
My mouth and my hands. Nose wrinkle My middle finger.
My gesture. NINA KINERT - PETS AND FRIENDS
What did you communicate? What did you communicate? Swedish singer and songwriter.
What did you communicate? Something stinks in the Thanks a lot for running me
Good to listen to when: You’re cooking in the kitchen, you’re wearing some old-school
About food. kitchen. off the road! (a bit naughty I
rollerskates (you know the one’s that are adjustable), you’re out with your lomo camera taking
know!)
photographs of trees and skies, you’ve just discovered a new thrift store and you are rummaging.
What is your preferred What is your preferred
method of communication? method of communication? What is your preferred Listen here: www.myspace.com/ninakinert
Mostly my mouth, otherwise Punctuation method of communication? Visit here: www.ninakinert.com
my handy e-mail or Cuddles - nothing says ‘I love
messengers like MSN or ICQ Communicate in one word you’ better than a cuddle!
what art means to you? CLARA LUZIA - HEAR ATTACK
Communicate in one word Unction Communicate in one word Swedish singer and songwriter.
what art means to you? what art means to you?
Mind-blowing. Sleep-deprivation Good to listen to when: You’ve had your heart broken (and you are determined that it will never
happen again), you’ve just heard the bank is cancelling your credit card, you’ve run away to join the
circus, you are on a roadtrip.
Listen here: www.myspace.com/claraluzia
Visit here: www.claraluzia.com
LADYHAWKE - LADYHAWKE
New Zealand singer and songwriter.
7
Good to listen to when: You’re on the treadmill in the gym and you really don’t want to be, when
you feel like dancing instead of working, you’re young (at least at heart).
c
o
Listen here: www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock
n
Visit here: www.ladyhawkemusic.com
t r i b u t ors
Dearest
Blanket lover,
I have been trying to think of how to
start this letter to you for months.
Oh, there’s been many a fancy line
about change and new beginnings
and the future of Blanket... But all
of it just sort of sounds like window
dressing for what should just be an
open conversation, between you and
me. Because if I want this to work, I
really can’t window dress. I have just
got to talk. To you. With you. From the
bottom of my heart.
From Issue 16, The Portrait Issue, we
will be asking you to part with a little
bit of your cash to download your
Blanket each time.
It’s a minimal amount - only $2 (AUD).
But just because it’s a small price
to pay, doesn’t mean it’s not a huge
deal, for you and for us. So let me
explain why, after a lot of thought and
planning, we’re choosing to take this
path. Hopefully you will stick with me
right to the end so that you can better
understand my decision.
Blanket has been going now for more
than 2 1/2 years. And pretty much the
whole of that time, Blanket has been
my full time, all-the-time, “lie awake
at night thinking about it” job. There’s
been a whole lot of long hours and
sheer dogged determination to bring
Blanket to this point.
If you are an artist, a designer, a
photographer, or crafter who is
trying to make a living from doing
what you love, then I am sure you
can appreciate just how amazingly
rewarding and unbelievably stressful
that job can be. I’m not sure I could
have ever imagined how popular
Blanket would be and the amazing
opportunities it has given both to me,
my contributors and to my readers.
When I meet people for the first time
and they ask me what I do, I proudly
say that I run an online magazine. And
the next question they usually ask
(with a slight head tilt) is “But how do
you make a living from that?”
The truth is I don’t.
I have tried lots of different paths to
make Blanket a profitable business.
Advertising, donations, merchandise.
And while it has worked relatively
well, (and I love hearing how much
so many of you love your Blanket
merchandise) it just can’t make
enough of a difference. It was
painfully clear to me that if I want to
keep producing Blanket, and to grow
Blanket to one day achieve what I
think it deserves to be - a printed
magazine that we can smell, touch,
flick through and keep - then I can’t
do it alone.
What will make a difference is you.
Your passion for Blanket, for the
artists we uncover and promote,
for the design we work so hard on
each issue. If you are in a position
to part with just a couple of bucks
every couple of months, then I can
absolutely promise you that we will
keep delivering on all the things
you love about Blanket... and lots
more besides!
9 10
blanket magazine
Dear
blanket
Blanket
magazine
Readers...
For one thing, we have just launched
a new and unbelievably improved
website which is so very exciting!
We’ve now combined the website
and the blog together so that it’s
easier for you to read about the
talented people and projects we
uncover inbetween issues. In the
coming months we’re also going
to have more merchandise, free
wallpaper and font downloads and
lots more to keep you coming back
to Blanket and knowing that it’s
all worthwhile.
For me, Blanket isn’t just another
online PDF magazine that you see on
the internet. We are so much more
than that. Blanket is considered.
We spend many hours researching
and writing stories, and designing
each page so that the final magazine
we produce is beautiful. I sincerely
believe that no other online magazine
rivals us in terms of content, design
and style. The recent online survey
shows me that you guys think much
the same, and that you expect a lot
of us.
To keep delivering what you deserve,
I need to be able to focus all my
energy on the quality of our magazine,
not on worrying about how to pay
my next Internet bill.
I could not imagine my life without
this magazine. I know my contributors
feel the same way.
Hopefully you do too.
And for those of you who will say
goodbye - thank you for your support -
and we hope to see you again in
the future. We will be waiting with
open arms.
Thanks for listening. And if you want
to tell me how you feel about this,
please feel free. Email me at
editor@blanketmagazine.com
Thank you for your understanding,
Bec xo
CRAFTY
COMMUNICATIONS
JEK TEACHES US HOW
TO COMMUNICATE
OLD SCHOOL STYLE!
I am not a phone person. Most folks find this
surprising because I am prone to whimsical attacks
of logorrhea. To put it simply, I talk. A lot. Often.
Okay, all the time. I talk to the cat, to myself, to
strangers on the street. I talk to my car and to
birds and even the honeybees in the garden. I’m a
babbler, I confess, and I hate it. Most of the time
when I morph into chatty Cathy, a voice clicks on
in my head pleading with me to zip it. When I’m
nervous I don’t even stop for a breather, I just la-
la-la-la on and on and on and on. I know it makes
heads spin. I know it makes eyes roll. That just may
be one of the reasons why I don’t like the phone. In
person, I can get a feel for someone. If they are just
as chatty, I feel relieved. If they are not, I am prone
to stupidity. I find myself saying things just to fill
the silence and more than half of them come out all
stupid and wrong and make me appear to be some
sort of nincompoop. Note to friend I just recently
saw for the first time in almost twenty-years, I’m
really not that obnoxious. Sometimes, sure but I
was sooooo nervous I just went on automatic pilot
and my automatic pilot is not very cool. Excuse me
while I go bang my head on the wall.
Even with all my moments of wittiness, I am not
a fan of the phone. The phone we have at home,
is connected to the wall. If you want to speak on
the phone at the tiny casa, you must park yourself
into the tiny nook we call the dining room and chat.
It takes me away from my projects. No, I’m not
a fan of the phone. Especially not a cell phone. I
know all my friends tell me they HAVE to have one
for work or their kids or whatever. But all I see is a
parade of people walking around with heads down
and mouths flapping and having conversations that
by the time they reach my ears, make me shake
my head for humanity. I see a lot of attachment to
these things called cell phones so why not make a
toy one, just for kicks?
11 12
blanket magazine
Craft with Jek!
 Remember when we were kids, we made tin can

Its small telephones? Remember how cool they were? In

honor of the times and all of you cell phone fans
out there, here is a project to whip up a tin can

its car phone for you or your children to play with. It’s
small, it’s customized and it even has a ring-tone
of sorts. All you need is two small cat food cans

customized with pull back tops, some paper or paint to make

your “skin”, super strong glue or epoxy, yarn and a
hinge. Gather your cans and wash them to get out

and it
that oh-so-nifty, cat food smell. Peel of the label and
affix one of your own or paint it up with polka-dots
or something. Poke a small hole through the bottom

even has a
of each can (a nail would work) and thread one end
of your yarn thorough each hole, knot it. Your yarn
can be as long as you want it, I suggest to keeping

ringtone
it at least six feet long if you really want to play with
it. Use the glue to hinge the lid back on and let dry.
Ta-da! You now have a mini tin can cell phone of
sorts. Dazzle your younger pals with your prehistoric

of sorts technical wisdom. Take pictures of your phone in

Catch up with Jek in between
Blanket issues on her blog:
www.scrumdillydilly.blogspot.com
use and use it as an art project. Practice pulling on
the thread to create different ring-tones. The bottom
of the can pops with each tug. It’s fun, it’s kooky
and it’s ever so old school. Whatever you do, when
you’re ready to drive, hang up the phone!

13 14
blanket magazine
Craft with Jek!
 Here’s my work... Cate Furey
Here’s my work... Ashlie Chavez
The joy of wet cement! What better way to declare love or leave a permanent record of your existence. There’s a
sadness with “pip” because it looks like someone has tried to scrub it out ... wanting to erase that communication
... but it’s too late. {Cate Furey - Australia}

15 16
blanket magazine
Here’s my work...
Here’s my work... Danny McCran

17 18
blanket magazine
Here’s my work...
 Here’s my work... Jess Ganocha

19 20
blanket magazine
Here’s my work...
 Here’s my work... Dario Vigil

Here’s my work... Julia Martinez Diana

21 22
blanket magazine
Here’s my work...
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blanket magazine
Chain of Fools

Weirdo Chain
 If you’re like me, this cyber
nuisance filling up your bandwidth
annoys the crap out of you but
alas, it highlights a terrible double
standard for me. You see, I am
a incredibly superstitious person
and naturally I would be prone
to act on such letters but
because I get them through
email, it somehow makes them
less legitimate.
Now when I say I’m a
superstitious person, I mean I
don’t walk under ladders or put
new shoes on tables. I will not
open an umbrella indoors and
will always throw spilt salt over
my left shoulder. I always blow
out my birthday candles in one
breath and I will wrestle a black
cat to the ground rather than have
it cross my path. Its terrible but
every superstition I’ve ever heard
I believe in. If you told me I had to
eat a cucumber every time I saw
a white car to stop hair loss, I’d
believe you and you’d immediately
see me walking down the street
with a bag of cucumbers slung
over my shoulder.
So, if I received a real chain letter,
one through the post and hand
written demanding that I re-write
it ten times and send it on, I’d
do it no question. When I was
a child, I remember our family
received a chain letter. This was
25 26
blanket magazine
Chain of Fools
pre-email, pre-cut and paste –
old school. It said “re-write this
letter and send it to ten people
or something terrible will happen
to your family.” To put it mildly,
my tiny little superstitious mind
was blown when I read it and my
fertile imagination ran rampant
with amazing scenes of death
and destruction. When I asked my
Mum about it recently she said
she didn’t keep the chain going
but I can only assume she did
because I’m still alive – it’s the
only logical explanation for my
continued existence.
Chain letters have been around
since at least the 18th Century.
Some ask for money, some say
good or bad things will happen,
and some are from Jesus. To
be honest, if I got one from
Jesus, I’d definitely follow those
instructions - there are limits
to my superstition but I’m not
messing with the Son of God
(even though I’m a committed
atheist). Whoever creates them
is probably a bored individual but
I can assure you, if one turned up
in my mailbox tomorrow, I’d follow
its instructions - just in case.
By the way, “just in case” is a
superstitious person’s justification
for acting like an irrational lunatic.
However, when it comes to
chain emails, I just can’t engage
with them as a superstition.
There’s no effort in going
through your address book and
pressing forward. There’s nothing
scary about emoticons or little
animations of angels flying up
your page. I’m more likely to
give my bank account details to
the sole remaining relative of a
Nigerian Prince than forward on
a chain email. The other thing is,
I’m at the time of my life where
my friends are disappearing into
marriages and child rearing.
I presume I’ll never hear from
them again and I’m not even
sure I have ten friends to forward
a chain email onto (and if I did,
I’d probably lose friends).
I usually receive chain emails off
my family (bless them) as they’re
probably as superstitious as me
but I don’t see them swimming
in pools of Moet (and if they
are, they’re hiding it VERY well).
There’s no proof where if I broke
a mirror I’d bet you $100 my next
seven years were terrible. Chain
emails are not real enough for
me to take seriously - I need
superstitions where I can touch
and feel the bad luck coming.
Anyhow, once my hair has
recovered, I’m hitting the road
with my new band, the Blanket
Revolution. Its a ska fusion prog
rock type of thing, its gonna
be awesome.
RE_ ACTION
See how our
Blanket readers
reacted to
our theme for
this Issue:
communication

Image by Pako Arellano aka KOSUC

27 28
re_action: BLUE
re_action:

blanket magazine
CONFESSION
From Left to Right: Alvaro Sanchez, Felix Rodriguez, Michael Lewis.

29 30
re_action: BLUE
re_action:

blanket magazine
CONFESSION
From Left to Right (Top to Bottom): Djordje Joksimovic, Ben Perkins, Nicole Tattersall ‘True Love Birds’, Helen Entwisle (aka Memo).

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From Left to Right (Top to Bottom): Aliirfaan Nujjoo, Dan Hallett, Joseenrique Veloccia ‘I have to tell you something’, Yuen Xelia, Lens Tyomkin.

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From Left to Right: Tan Shiang Chin ‘Old Notices’, Sarah Holmes ‘Fortunes’, Kara Santos ’Ouija’, Jess Smiley ‘Mirror’, Vanessa Letts, Elisabetta Gon ‘Something in the Sky’.

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From Left to Right (Top to Bottom): Jeremy Grant, Emilie Garcin, Ita Serka, Pierre-Paul Pariseau, Federico Salvador, Jonathan Wilson ‘ikeadoo’.

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From Left to Right: Igor Milanovic, Dorothea Huber, Anthony Zinonos ‘talk talk talk’.

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From Left to Right: Sarah Watts ‘The Snake Queen’, Fabelis,Tennur Bas ‘Not war’.

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From Left to Right: Alex Kirkwood, Isobel Blake, Pam Golafshar.

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CONFESSION
How do you communicate with an audience when you
don’t know who they are?
That’s the question we wanted to explore for BLANKETS
communication issue so we found THREE very different

HOTEL BLOOM
art projects that do exactly that. One is a hotel, one
a travelling JOURNAL and one became a world wide
phenomenon...
Hotel Bloom isn’t just
an ordinary Hotel - it’s a
functioning art gallery.
When new owners acquired a
hotel in Brussels they wanted
to turn the original drab, under
performing hotel into a light,
bright contemporary hotel. But
in such a competitive market this
alone would not allow the hotel to
stand out from the crowd. So an
idea was formed. Why not put the
call out to emerging artists all over
Europe to come and paint the
walls? It was this idea that began
a collaboration between the hotel
and the European League of the
Institutes of the Arts (ELIA).
We spoke to some of the artists
involved with the project and ask
them what it was like to work on
such a unique project.
Sandrea Simons was
completing an MA at
Nottingham Trent University
and was asked by the
programme leader to go to
Brussels to paint a room in the
hotel as part of a pilot scheme
to test if the project would work.
And as they say the rest
is history...
Were there any challenges to
overcome during the project?
Yes the mix of nationalities made
it a multi cultural experience and
those barriers, including language,
made the project more interesting
and made the students bond.
The time you had in the hotel for
the project meant you had to be
prepared beforehand and work
hard. You also had to make sure
the work you executed would
stand the test of time - to be
something you would be proud
of in the future, as the paintings
would be there for a minimum of
ten years.
What was your favourite aspect
of the project?
Making friends from different
countries and cultures. I also liked
the luxury of staying in the Hotel
- the breakfast is fantastic! The
hotel took us out for a meal whilst
we were there and we got to see
some of Brussels. The fact that all
of your expenses were paid and
you also received payment for the
painting was great - plus a first
commission for most to be put
on your CV

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You painted a mural in
Room 301 - what was your
concept about?
As my work is autobiographical
it is important for me to keep
my artistic integrity at all times
so I have to make work based
on what is happening for me at
the time. Part of my MA project
was following and tracking
the movements of Nigerian
scammers on internet dating
sites. The story I painted on the
wall of the hotel is a love story
that from a distance looks nice
and floral and pretty but in fact
when you get up close and read
between the flowers there’s
something dark. It’s about deceit,
and lies all painted and expressed
by the use of human organs,
insects, birds and flowers.
Louise Chappell and Becky
Bolton from Good Wives
and Warriors were also selected
by ELIA to paint a fresco.
They painted Room 402
of Hotel Bloom.
How did you find out about the
call for artists for Hotel Bloom?
We found out through a friend
of ours who knew two people
from the Glasgow School of Art
who had already been involved
in the project. We talked to them
about it, and they had really
enjoyed the whole experience
and recommended that we give
it a go. We had been trying to do
collaborative wall paintings at any
opportunity, so it seemed perfect
for us.
What process did you go
through to submit your work?
As we graduated from the
Glasgow School of Art, which
is part of the ELIA, we were
eligible to register. We then had
to provide a written proposal,
sketches and examples of past
work. We received some feed
back on our ideas, as the ELIA
co-ordinators are keen to
emphasise that the painting has
to be suitable for a hotel room.
Every few months, they take
a batch of artists to Brussels
to work on one floor of the hotel.
We were selected and travelled
to Brussels at the end of
March 2008.
Was it difficult or restricting
working on the theme ‘bloom’?
It was actually really fun and a
relief to be given a theme!
I suppose you spend many years
at art school worrying about
themes and theory etc, and it
felt quite refreshing being given
the theme of ‘bloom’ that had
to be people-friendly, or at least
something that guests would
want to see in a hotel room.
I suppose we took the theme
fairly literally, as we wanted to
just paint beautifully detailed
black and white flora and fauna
cascading over the bed-head.
Other artists may have found
the theme restricting, but we
loved it!
What preparation did you do
before you started your fresco?
We had done a rough plan of the
overall shape, and had printed out
lots of source material, but apart
from that, we just got out our tiny
brushes and went for it! We only
had 2 days to do our mural, so
it was quite intense - long hours
until we couldn’t focus anymore
but at least we only had to go
down one floor and we could fall
into our hotel room!
What do you think about the
concept on the Hotel?
It is a great concept for a hotel.
The idea of every room being
unique is a lovely idea, especially
in reaction to all the soul-less,
cloned hotels in the world. It is
probably a great selling point
for the hotel and I’m sure all
the artists had a great time,
especially having everything
paid for and being given a fee.
Its pretty much an art students
dream come true!
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Did you meet any other artists
while you were there?
We all had meetings together
and meals, and we were all
encouraged to have our doors
open while painting the rooms
so that we could pop in and chat
to other artists. I think we were
the only ones from the UK when
we were there, everyone else
was from all over Europe so
there was a really good mix of
nationalities. It was all designed
so there would be lots of
interaction between the artists.
We were only there for a couple
of nights so we missed out on
the ‘moules et frites’ dinner out
with everyone!
What did you enjoy about
the experience? ROOM 301 - BY SANDREA SIMONS
I think we mostly enjoyed being
put up in a good hotel and the
breakfast spread! We have
been painting collaborative wall
paintings together for quite a
few years now, so it is always
exciting for us to have an
opportunity to do murals. We
also loved just painting flowers
and not worrying about why or
what we were doing.
www.goodwivesandwarriors.
co.uk/
www.hotelbloom.com/
ROOM 402 - BY LOUISE AND BECKY
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POST SECRET
THE ACCIDENTAL ARTIST The beauty of the Postsecret In addition to its cathartic
{by Lindsay Green} project is that it taps into the benefits, Postsecret expands
universal truths of being human. the definition of what art is and
In 2004, Frank Warren created
According to Warren, “It’s not who can create it. The handmade
a global phenomenon when he
unusual for me to get two postcards are constructed using
invited 3000 strangers to share
postcards on the same day from personal items such as old
their secrets with him. Postcards
two different continents, written photographs, invitations and
bearing Warren’s home address
in two different languages, x-rays. The subversive, do-it-
were left between the pages
expressing the same desire, or yourself nature of the project
of library books and on park
the same fear, or the same hope.” excites Warren as it reveals that
benches throughout Washington
While factors such as mental “courage can be more important
D.C. Recipients were asked to
illness and the increased use than talent or technique in
reveal a secret on one side of a
of technology mean that many creating meaningful art.”
handmade postcard. There were
people feel isolated in today’s
no restrictions as to what could Postsecret’s success is evident
society, Postsecret reveals that
be confessed, provided that it in the popularity of the website,
“the feelings, thoughts, beliefs
was true and had not been which is updated every Sunday.
and fears we hold in private are
shared previously. Attendance at Warren’s lectures
often the exact same thing that
at colleges, museums and
The 100 postcards Warren unite us with others.”
conferences also reveals the
received in return included
Warren believes in facing the relevance of the project to
heartbreaking confessions, erotic
painful parts of life and finding people’s lives. “A Lifetime of
fantasies, fears, beliefs, regrets
strength through sharing them Secrets: A Postsecret Book”,
and dreams. These powerful
with others. Seeing the postcards published in 2007, is the fourth
and poignant confessions were
as both art and a form of therapy, book in the Postsecret series.
displayed at an exhibition later
he says, “I think sharing a secret While Warren admits that he
that year. When the exhibition
can be thought of as a spiritual includes one of his own postcards
closed, Warren imagined the
experience. I know that some of in each book, he is reluctant to
project was over. However, the
the postcards I receive display divulge any more information.
secrets kept coming, and not
artwork and care that appears to When asked to reveal one of his
just from Washington, but from
have taken such an investment in secrets, he replies, “Maybe my
different states, countries and
time and effort. Much more than secret is: I hope the secrets never
continents and in a variety of
would be necessary to simply stop coming.”
languages. To date Warren has
tell a secret. I think these cards
received over 150 000 postcards
represent something more than www.postsecret.com
with approximately 200 more
we can see. Maybe for these
arriving each day.
people, sharing their secret is a
search for grace.”

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1000 JOURNALS
Endless possibilities
{by Jonathan Hulme}
For most people, creating
art is not a conscious thing
they undertake. The creativity
and imagination that fires
us as children is often worn
down by a world full of self
doubt and adult worry. The
1000 Journals project looks
to counter this and re-ignite
the creative passion in its
participants. Started by a San
Francisco artist who goes by
the pseudonym of Some Guy,
the experiment is simple and
elegant - release 1000 blank
journals into the world and
ask anyone who finds one to
contribute something/anything
and then pass them on.
From an initial release of 100
journals in the San Francisco
area in August 2000, the
journals have crossed the
globe and touched numerous
lives of people who wouldn’t
normally contribute or create
art. The journals can be logged
at the project’s website to
watch their progress and while
most of the journals remain at
large, participants have sent
in scans and images of the
journals contents. The response
has been extraordinary but
the most striking result is
the personal stories of the
contributors that have come
out of the project (some of
which have been captured in a
documentary about the project,
(see www.1000journalsfilm.
com for more details). Blanket
recently spoke with Some Guy
about the project.
The project originated from
your interest in what people
wrote on toilet walls (which you
photographed and compiled).
I’ve often found it interesting
that this private/public space
allows people to express
themselves in ways they
probably wouldn’t do in any
other forum. Did your initial
exploration of this give you any
insight into this phenomena?
I bet a behavioral psychologist
would have a lot to say about
what people write on bathroom
walls. From my perspective, I
think everyone has something
to say, and the bathroom wall
gives them a chance to say it
anonymously. Add to that a sort
of cultural acceptance of writing
on bathroom walls (since we about the project is the range of lives. Journals 114 and 194 are Have most of the participants
were kids, right? “for a good contributions. You can call them particularly heartbreaking, embraced the idea that the
time, call...” and so forth?). I think good, or bad... thoughtful or and I still hope they’ll pop journals should be passed on
or have you come across any
it was in the book “The Tipping juvenile, but in the end, they’re up somewhere.
journal hogs who can’t bare
Point” by Malcolm Gladwell, people being creative.
to pass on the journals? (or
where he talked about graffiti on Further, the journals have
is that even an thing that
the New York subway. If there is 1000 Journals is not restrained become not only a site of
concerns you?)
graffiti there, then people tend to by location, artist group or artistic exploration but also
Oh, I’m sure there are some
add more. Most folks won’t write audience. Was that potential for some, personal diaries and
important outlets for feeling journal hogs out there. I mean,
on a blank bathroom wall. Except a driving force in the project’s
and creativity for which there imagine if you had a journal that
for taggers, and they’re just jerks. inception?
was no other way to express had traveled the world, full of
Definitely. Bathrooms are typically
themselves. With one of the amazing entries just sitting on
1000 Journals took this concept visited only by someone who
key aspirations of the project your coffee table. Every time you
and made it a more interactive needs to use them, segregated
being to unlock people’s had guests, they were amazed
process but allowing a greater by gender, and even more by
creativity, there must be some with it, and you invited them to
freedom of expression than geography. Allowing these
simply writing on a toilet walls. gratification in the response to contribute something. That might
journals to travel from person
What have been the more 1000 Journals? be a hard thing to let go of. I think
to person seemed like the
surprising or unusual uses of It’s funny, many people ask me if most people get that the spirit
most democratic (and
the journals you have seen? I feel the project was a success, if the project is sharing though,
adventurous) way to capture
People have done some given the low number of journals so for the most part, the journals
a slice of humanity.
interesting things with the returned. My response is that if travel around (and, peer pressure
journals. They’ve been used as they could read the emails I get. always helps).
The search for journals 114
a vessel of apology to mend a If they could see that this project
and 194, shows how far and
broken friendship (except that has inspired folks to start painting According to the map on the
personally the project has
the apology wasn’t accepted). touched people’s lives. When again, or begin writing again, or website, most of the journals
They’ve been left in remote you originally conceived the just be creative again, then they’d have resided in the US but
caves, used for treasure hunts, project, did you realise the full know exactly how successful some of them have travelled
left in the lost and found, and implications the journals would it’s been. The number of journals across the globe. Did you
stolen at gunpoint. People have play to those they reached? back pales in importance to the expect them to go so far?
added personal confessions and Absolutely not. When I launched number of lives touched, and It’s sort of like a message in a
diary-like entries, or simply glued the project, I had no idea how to me, the project has been far bottle, you never really know
in ticket stubs from a show they far the journals would go, or more successful than I could have what’s going to happen to them.
enjoyed. What’s most amazing how they’d touch people’s imagined when I started it. Some stay in the same town for
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FIrst Name Surname
years, while others get handed
off by travelers or left at hostels.
What was the genesis of the
documentary about the project?
I was contacted in 2003 by
Andrea Kreuzhage, a filmmaker
from Los Angeles. She thought
there was a story to tell, and
wanted to create a documentary
on the project. I was skeptical,
but wanted to see how she’d
create a movie about a bunch of
journals. After a year of research,
she began filming around the
world. She brought to life the
stories of the people who
contributed to the project. I, the
whole time, had been focused
on the journal entries... what
people put into the journals.
Andrea looked into who those
people were, and how the project
affected them.
Throughout this process you
have kept your identity in the
process rather low key which
seems to give more importance
to the project than the creator.
Was this aim of maintaining
your anonymity?
It was. This project only exists
through the contributions people
made in the journals. Without
them, it’s just a bunch of blank
journals. It seemed silly for me to
take credit, when really all I did
was provide the blank canvas.
Everyone else made the art.
I think it is reasonable to
assume from your back story
that you are an artist yourself.
Has the 1000 journals changed
or influenced your art since
it began?
I think the project has reaffirmed
my faith in creativity. Everyone is
an artist, even when they won’t
admit it. In my own work, I’m
very interested in how people
experience art, so some is based
on that interaction between the
piece and the viewer. The project
also helped me understand that
a journal is just a journal until
someone opens it, smiles, and
adds their two cents. It’s the
experience, the interaction that
completes the piece.
As only one journal has been
returned, do you have lingering
sense of anticipation when you
collect the mail or check your
emails that one of the journals
may be coming back or has
the low return rate made you
pragmatic about the chances of
the journals being returned?
There are actually close to 30
journals back, though most were
returned during the filming of
the documentary and in putting
the book together. Most were
only 1/2 or 3/4 full at the time,
and hard to consider “complete”.
I think, as time goes on, they’ll
continue to trickle in at random
times. For example, two weeks
ago, one showed up on my
doorstep, mailed from Florida.
There was no note, and when I
went online to see where it had
been, the last sighting was in
2002. It’s not very full, but that’s
how this project is... things show
up and disappear on a whim. I’ve
had to get comfortable with that.
What do you hope will be the
final outcome of the project or
do you see a time when you
will formally end the project?
I’m not sure there will ever be
an “end” to the project. Twenty
years from now, a journal could
pop up and have an amazing
story to it... The longer they’re
out there, the more interesting
the entries will be. My hope is
that the ones I do have back can
continue to travel in exhibitions,
and people will still get to see
them / add to them.
www.1000journals.com
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FIrst Name Surname
Have you seen thEsE
journalS?
In March 2001, a 1000 Journal
contributor named Andy (also known
as Bearfut) was killed in a motorcycle
accident in Australia. Andy had
contributed to two journals (numbered
114 and 194) and his family have asked
that if these journals are ever returned,
they would like to get copies of his
entries. Journal 114 was last seen in
Hobart and left in an unknown location
around this time - it hasn’t been logged
since. In 2001, Journal 194 was taken
to the Rainbow Serpent Festival in
Beaufort, Victoria and was given to
someone named Claire. From there,
it was supposed to go to a DJ called
DJ Becca and head to Melbourne - but
it hasn’t been heard of since this time.
If you have any clues that could help
track down these journals (for example,
if you know of DJ Becca), please
contact Some Guy at 1000journals.com
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THE SUNDAY PROJECT
OVERWHELMED BY THE
PREVIOUS LARGE-SCALE
PROJECTS? YOU CAN STILL
BE CREATIVE AND COME UP
WITH A SMALLER, MORE
MANAGEABLE PROJECT.
ALEX KIRKWOOD DID!
HERE’S HER STORY...
Can you explain a little about
what the ‘Anonymous Postcard’
project involved?
Every second Monday I delivered
a photo of a customised postcard
back to the lovely shop, Aroha
Lamour, that I originally got the
postcard from. I’d drop them
off early in the morning before
anyone was there.
Why did you decide to start the
‘Anonymous Postcards’ project?
I had a collection of Aroha Lamour
postcards from all the times I
visited to look at their beautiful
things. I’m not very good at
sitting still, so I couldn’t help but
start cutting them up or drawing
on them. It wasn’t until after I’d
made them all that I decided to
deliver them back. I only delivered
photos because I wasn’t sure
they’d appreciate the originals!
Why was it important to
remain ‘anonymous’?
I didn’t know the owners of Aroha
Lamour so I didn’t feel it would
make sense to tell them who
I was because it just wouldn’t
mean anything. Besides, I
thought it would be more fun to
have a little intrigue.
How long did the project last?
It lasted 2 months. I had hoped it
would last longer but I went in to
restock my postcard supply and
there weren’t any on display! I
was worried they realised I was
flogging them. Plus, I was moving
from Napier back to my home
town of Perth, so I felt that it had
to end eventually.
We’re you caught out?
I was caught out! I wrote about
each postcard on my blog and
Aroha Lamour followed some
clicks back to me. The wonder
of the internet - I should’ve seen
it coming! I realised they found
me when they posted about
the postcards on their website.
It was the impetus I needed to
deliver the original postcards
and introduce myself. Of course,
while I was there, I couldn’t help
grabbing some more postcards.
What did you learn from
the project?
That sometimes it’s not just what
you create but also the effect it
has that makes something work.
Was this a good marketing tool
to introduce yourself and your
craft to people you admire?
Whilst I didn’t set out to market
myself, it certainly helped me
meet people whose work
impresses me. Had I not been
moving back to Australia, who
knows where it might have led?
I didn’t know many people in
Napier and it made me feel that I
had made a connection with the
creative side of the town which,
until then, I had just admired as
an outsider.
the-sunday-project.blogspot.
com
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FIrst Name Surname
Here’s my work... Veronica Romanenghi

57 58
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Here’s my work...
Here’s my work...Nicole Tattersall

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Here’s my work...

Here’s my work...Marcelo Granero

 Here’s my work... EXO

Here’s my work... Sarah Carter

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Here’s my work...
Here’s my work...Mundocaco

blanket magazine
64
63
Here’s my work...
 Could you tell us a little about
yourself and your background?
Well, let’s see I was born into an
amazing family in Murfreesboro,
TN in 1985. I spent most of my
life in the piney woods of east
Texas playing basketball, collecting
Michael Jordan memorabilia,
drinking Jones Soda, destroying
people’s sadness with miles
of smiles and chasing after my
childhood sweetheart who is
now my lovely bride. In High
School I was an athlete and a
social butterfly with interests
in Radiohead and album art. A
magnificent force led me into a
creative field. From 2004 - 2008 I
was cutting loose in Starkville, MS
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Will Bryant
while studying Graphic Design at
Mississippi State. This is where I
learned how to see, draw, kern,
screen print, deejay, and manage
a bank account. I was taught by
the amazing Kate Bingaman-Burt
and hung out at the Public Design
Center, a non-profit design resource
center headed by her husband Where does the ‘Mr Fancy Pants’
Clifton. The past few months have reference come from?
been really exciting for me... I
I first used it in a tote bag design
graduated, moved, got married,
for Rare Device. Then again, at
honeymooned, and then settled in
some point I referred to myself
Austin where I’m freelancing while
as Mr. Fancy Pants Bryant on my
looking for fulltime work before
portfolio site. Recently, the ever so
heading into grad school IN THE
kind TandA blog read this reference
FUTURE. Eventually I would like to
and assumed that this was my
be a professor while keeping the
moniker. After discovering this
freelance dance alive.
 I decided it was too ridiculous to
pass up and now I’ve embraced
the fancy thus resulting in
“Mr Fancy Pants” having an
EIN number!
When did you first realize
you could make a living from
your art?
I actually don’t know that I’ve
realized this just yet. ha! I sure
hope it to be true, but the
bride and I are getting by at the
moment. In college (uhhh 3
months ago) my art/deejaying
was all going into my diamond
sparkly fund. Now it’s helping us
to pay rent, buy groceries, and
make dreams. So these next few
months will be very interesting.
I am searching for other
opportunities and would like to
gain more experience in identity
and branding.
What have been the challenges
working as a freelancer?
Apart from finding consistent
work and trying not to worry
about paying bills there are a
few struggles I’ve encountered.
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Will Bryant
Will Bryant
I think staying organized and
breaking into a routine have
been tough for me. I thankfully
have a trustworthy organizational
application that keeps me on
track. As far as the routine, I’ve
only been married since January
so it’s been exciting living with
my bride. We’re adjusting to each
other’s sleeping habits, my work
methods, and jokes. With that
said, I haven’t been freelancing
full time for very long. There will
be plenty of challenges to speak
of 6 months from now.
How do you promote
your artwork?
My fantastic internet friends
help spread the word, my mom
tells her friends, and I use the
all-knowing flickr. The internet is
magical... some of my favourite
clients have just appeared out
of thin air! (probably by portkey)
The internet would be the main
method or promotion, but I’m
working on some promo cards
that I hope to get printed at
the amazing Pinball Publishing
in Portland!
Do you think you need to be
self-motivated to make it in
such a tough industry?
Oh my yes! It’s a must. Being
motivated is crucial, but staying
motivated can be the challenge. I
really don’t create a whole lot of
projects that don’t have my whole
heart and soul poured into. Having
a passion for what you do will
always help you stay motivated...
as well as glass bottled Cokes, my
wife’s cooking, new music, and a
pleasant e-mail in the inbox.
This issue is about
‘communication’ how important
is it it communicate a feeling
or emotion to your audience
through the work you create?
The most important aspects
of communication are found
in relationships. Most often
the concept or message of my
artwork is masked by my light-
hearted approach, which is the
mainspring of my relationship to
art (and too often other aspects
of life). I think it’s very important
to communicate the feeling I have
towards line, shape, and colour.
 I’m infatuated with their relation
to one another; whether they’re
consciously or subconsciously
created. To communicate this
energy to my audience is the
ultimate goal of creating
something new.
Besides art what other interests
do you have?
I’ve had a long obsession over
sneakers, but I’m trying to replace
it with outfitting my bicycle. I also
enjoy basketball, football, disc golf,
and running. My wife and I LOVE
to play wii, ride bicycles, watch
movies, cook, and clean! (My
interest in music would need to
have it’s own question)
When are you at your happiest?
When there is music playing, I’ve
just made something, and my wife
is laughing.
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Will Bryant
Tell us something about yourself
that we don’t know?
I almost tried to walk-on for
basketball at Mississippi State.
My old flatmate is a manager for
the team and thought I had a good
chance of sitting the bench. I’m
pretty quick and can drain a jumper,
but decided against it because I
was actually interested in school for
the first time. Also, I’ve broken my
nose 9 times.
What was your concept behind
the front cover of Blanket?
Like most of my concepts, it’s
business casually based on
something. This time it concerns
my attention span issues. To
explain, I’m easily distracted and
often get caught up in something
that’s not really important. Rather
than looking up and responding
with a smile, I’m sometimes frozen
with a toothless gaze. I kinda made
this up, wink.
Can you tell us about your
creative process when creating
the front cover for Blanket?
My process usually starts with pen
to paper. So I started drawing until
something made me laugh (at it,
not with it) then dreweth some
more until I got stuck. After getting
stuck I slapped the sketchbook
on the scanner bed and then lost
myself in the moment with mom’s
spaghetti. I decided on texture and
thought I’d like to see a collage
element which almost made sense.
This led to tweaking and finalizing
on colour. Wow, after reading
what I just wrote I’ve decided I’m
going to start having some more
conceptualization in my process...
not! Actually maybe...
www.will-bryant.com/
6 artists, creating a
piece together, with
no face-to-face
contact.
It’s a crazy idea. It’s
the ultimate in artistic
communication.
It’s a blanket first.

the
PASSIT
ON project 71 72
blanket magazine
Joe Penrod
Pass It On Project
This is how
it all began...
caitlin gahan >> all the artists catherine ryan >> shawn creeden
Hi Shawn,
Hello everyone! Here’s my drawing.
blanket magazine is an bi-monthly online My idea is pretty simple -- I like the ambiguity of not
magazine that aims to uncover artists-designers, knowing whether it depicts a cat this is living or dead
photographers and crafters. Every issue, we have (possibly a stuffed trophy) and and am open to all
a theme that we work around, and our April issue interpretations. The drawing was originally done in
charcoal.
is all about “Communication”. Brainstorming about
this theme, editor Bec and I had an idea... I can’t wait to see what you do next!

To recruit 6 artists to create a piece together and Best,

TALK about it as they do it... one after the other, Catherine
ending in an incredible piece of collaborative,
beautiful art!
We’d really like you to be one of those artists. “My idea is pretty simple”
The catch is, we know that it’s impossible for
people to find the time to get together (especially
if they live in different countries), so we wanted to
create the whole project over email.
So, the plan is that one artist starts a little
something (e.g. draws a big red line) and then shawn creeden >> jess gonacha
emails it on to the next artist (you’ll need illustrator
or something similar me thinks) and explains
what they were thinking when you created the Well I hope this works. Do

jess gonacha >> rose lazaar

red line. And then the NEXT artist takes over and whatever you will with this!
adds to the red line (e.g. with a big blue circle) and I left in several layers so
then emails it on to the NEXT artist with THEIR things could be rearranged.
explanation. Then, in the spread, we’ll show each I guess I just wanted to fill in the
step in the creative process and include all the space some more and put the
animal in more of a setting, so
emails that you send to each other (including this I added the water around him.
one I’m writing to you!) And when I drew the faucet, I
Is this crazy? Perhaps! Only time will tell! “Well , I hope thought it needed some color, so
rainbows were the natural fit!
Please let me know quickly and I will email
everyone again with the running order of who this works”
goes 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc etc.

Thanks in advance! We really want you on board!

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Caitlin Gahan
blanket magazine
Joe Penrod
Pass

Editorial Assistant,
“I thought it needed some colour”
It On Project

Blanket Magazine:
Uncovering Design + Photography + Art
www.blanketmagazine.com
 jessica white
“Be mindful , there is al ways a bigger fish”...

anna copron & sean auyeung >> jessica white

This drawing gave me the
giggles. After looking at it for a
while, I thought, “hey, where’s
Hi Jessica & Caitlin, that rainbow water coming from?
When we saw the baboon eating the cheetah Well, it must be from the mouths
(leopard? panther?), with the fangs overhead, of babes.”
we thought - “Be mindful, there is always a So I added Betsy with her handy
bigger fish...” universal translator. And then I
Thanks for the fun project and we look gave her a little attitude.
forward to seeing the finished drawing! It wasn’t until I was done with
Let us know if you need more info on the drawing that I remembered
our part of the illustration... the theme - communication.
Anna & Sean... Sub-Studio How perfect!
This was a fun project! I’d love to
do it again sometime, maybe this
is the start of a series?

“And then I
gave her a
little attitude”

the
artISTS
Sub-studio: Anna Corpron & Sean Auyeung
Sub-studio was formed in 2006 when Anna Corpron and
Sean Auyeung forged a design partnership to combine
their individual creative interests. At the moment we draw
inspiration from the flora and fauna of the natural world,
urban remnants, the anatomy of machines, and the
creatures we imagine.
rose lazaar >> anna copron & sean auyeung

Shawn Creeden Jessica White

I love animals. (un)fortunately I have no mind for math nor Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, Jessica White discovered the
stomach for dissection, so my career as a zoologist was anxieties of American suburban life when her family moved to
Hello Anna and hello Caitlin Cary, NC at the tender age of nine. She survived the first year
cut short rather early on. I am from New Hampshire but I
So, I have added to the drawing! Here is currently live in Portland, Oregon where I make music in conversing only with the neighbour’s cat, and, occasionally,
what I have done... when I saw the baboon the basement and watch birds from the bathroom window. her brother. After adjusting fairly well over the years, Jessica
eating the panther my initial thought was “oh is now a printmaker, bookmaker, papermaker, and zinester.
Jessica Gonacha Sometimes she has a hard time distinguishing between
goodness”, hence that is what I thought the
baboon’s initial thought to seeing a panther The brain of artist Jessica Gonacha never stops turning. good and evil, but she continues to believe that she is able
would be. Since she was a tiny girl growing up in Boulder, Colorado, to communicate with animals.
she has been a maker of things, always hungry for new
I drew the vampire teeth dripping out the knowledge and new ways to express the images in her mind.
Catherine Ryan
words “oh goodness” to represent the Catherine Ryan was born and raised in New Jersey. She
thoughts of the baboon. Oh what a lucid 75 76
Rose Lazar moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1996 and received her
baboon! It was done in marker, india ink Rose Lazar is a printmaker by trade, but loves to draw. She Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting from the California College of
and gouache.
blanket magazine
Joe Penrod
Pass

was always found at an early age ignoring the muppets and the Arts in 2000. Her work has been published “100 Artists
drawing in notebooks. She designs and prints by hand a of the West Coast” and “Downy Bird Art Kingdom”, and the
It On Project

line of stationery and paper goods called the great lakes. “2008 Pacific Coast Edition of New American Paintings.”
Rose recently had a book of drawings published called
“Oh what a lucid baboom” Gyromancy with artist Robert A.A. Lowe. many thanks to our amazing artists.
we’ll see you again soon!
 BETSY
WALTON
Could you tell us a little
about yourself and
your background?
I live in Portland, Oregon.
I graduated from art
college nine years ago. I
majored in printmaking
at Milwaukee Institute of
Art and Design. I’ve been
a working artist for about
two and a half years.
I am a curious person and
my interests are broad,
but lately I have been
focused on learning more
about spiritual traditions.
This investigation has been
going on for the last couple
of years, and it has been a
big influence on my work.
“The tough part is working
even when I feel flat or
totally uninspired.”
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Betsy Walton
I also like math, science
and being in nature.
Where do you find
inspiration?
I don’t know that I can
concisely and definitively
answer that question. One
of my teachers in college
said that inspiration comes
from work, and that seems
to be the only way I can
progress as an artist.
I have to be there to paint
and draw as much as life
will permit, so that I can
catch the ideas that
come to me.
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The tough part is working
even when I feel flat or totally
uninspired. Feeling bored can be
a great opportunity to become
inspired, if I can find a salve of new
information that can drive my next
move in a painting. This information
could be anything, something that
I see in the world somewhere that
just clicks somehow, or an idea that
just pops into my mind, from who
knows where.
I think inspiration comes from
being engaged with the materials
and being present during the time
I am working. Its always about
trying to get in touch with the
‘new’ idea, the idea that feels
strange or unfamiliar. That can be
a really inspiring moment, and a
great opportunity to change the
direction of a painting. Its like an
internal wellspring, that I can never
really see or touch all at once, it
just sends out little showers of
ideas now and then. I don’t think I’ll
ever get to see where the spring
is or what it looks like. I do think I
know what it feels like however. It
is the most amazing feeling of total
engagement and surprise.
I am motivated and thrilled by
works of art in all media that radiate
the precision energy, laserlike
focus, and skill that all need to
come together to make a beautiful
object and/or transcendent
experience possible. I feel driven by
the possibility of feeling resonance
with other people and works of
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Betsy Walton
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art. It feels like being a part of
an unfolding consciousness and
creation of our own experience.
Well crafted (conceptually and
technically) works seem to raise
the quality of my experience of the
world. It refines and shapes the
way I understand the world.
I think that creative works help us
to be more sensitive to life.
How do you begin your creative
process?
It depends on the project, but it
usually starts with a thought that
I need to get to work. Then I make
a cup of tea, and queue up a couple
hours of music or podcast material
to listen to. I go through a process
of setting up, getting the materials
ready and maybe straightening
my desk. I choose the sizes
I will be working on if I am
making paintings.
Then I start painting. The first
stages are usually priming with a
tinted primer. This is a fun stage, I
am just trying to find a colour that
feels right. Its all layers after that.
Sometimes I have had an idea
that came to me for an image, or
an element, and so I set to work
to try to get it down on the panel.
Sometimes I gather reference
images from google images of a
particular element I want to work
with. Recently I was looking for
images of fungi.
w
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Do you keep a sketchbook
for inspiration?
w
I do have several sketchbooks
which I use to jot ideas down
or to think through options for
compositions or gallery installation
plans. I am making a paper
sculpture right now, so I used the
sketchbook a lot to try to figure out
how I wanted to make it.
Do you have a particular subject
matter you like to explore?
I have developed an affinity for
certain symbols, figurative and
formal elements which I use to
try to describe the complexity,
mystery, and seeking nature of
our experience. I seem to keep
returning to some, but they also
shift and change over time.
Have you created any pieces that
you can’t part with?
Generally, I like to share my work.
I guess I do have a drawer of
projects I feel are unresolved,
which may never see life outside
the drawer. I also have a few things
that I made for myself.
When did you first realize
you could make a living from
your art?
I was inspired to try after having
given it a great deal of thought
and having seen the example of
successful artists around me.
This was in 2006. I went to college
for art because I felt a funny feeling
w
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about it - it seemed so mysterious
and intriguing, and I didn’t really
have any clear thoughts about
the future.
Since I made the leap, to my
surprise and continual amazement,
my work has been warmly
received and supported, enabling
me to keep working. I didn’t fully
realize that it was possible to
make a living from my art until
it started happening during the
last 18 months or so. I had fully
internalized the idea that making
a living as an artist was impossibly
difficult and miraculous, and
probably would not happen for me.
But, as I began to see my peers
succeed, this idea started to fade,
and I got enough confidence to
take the risk.
What have been the challenges
working for yourself?
Oh, there are many, and there
are many rewards. For me,
organizing and prioritizing all the
responsibilities is difficult. I think
it is also key to be able to be
effective at accomplishing the day
to day work, yet still be able to step
back and view the big picture, like
where do I want to take my work, What kind of artists do
what do I want to be doing in the you admire?
next 5 years, etc. I like artists who have a generous
spirit, take risks, and push their
How have you handled the work to be the best it can be.
business side of being an artist?
I generally like the business side, Besides art what other interests
but it is a challenge to balance the do you have?
creative and administrative tasks. Gardening, swimming, The New
I have a hard time doing both types York Times, my cats, and cooking.
of work in the same day. The
administrative to do list seems to www.morningcraft.com
be growing just as much as the
creative to-do list.
What do you use to promote
your artwork?
I post images of most of my work,
including some work in progress “I didn’t fully
and sketchbook things on Flickr. I
also have a portfolio site, an etsy realize that it
shop, and a blog. I also show my
work frequently, which helps bring was possible to
my work to new communities. make a living
The internet community has been
huge for me. There are a few
from my art
kind and generous people who
until it started
have really embraced my work
and mentioned it in their blogs, happening during
which has snowballed into some
traditional press, illustration jobs, the last 18
and other opportunities. months or so.”
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Betsy Walton
Here’s my work... Katrin Kirojood

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Here’s my work...
Here’s my work... Andrea Gonbelt

Here’s my work... Marco Eychenne

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Here’s my work...
Here’s my work... Mario Sughi

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Here’s my work...
 Here’s my work...Thomas Tibitanzl

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Here’s my work...
“I used to see dyslexia as a weakness but now I consider it a strength.
I might see things in a different/unusual way, and come at something
from a different angle.” Coralie Bickford-Smith

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blanket magazine
Coralie Bickford-Smith

Remember Can you remember the first
book cover that made an
the saying impression on you?
It was a cloth hardback edition of
‘don’t judge Muffin the Mule by Annette Mills.
a book by It had a map of the garden printed
on its endpapers.
it’s cover’? I must have been about four
yeas old when I picked it out of
We’ll that couldn’t a second hand bookshop, and I
carted it around with me almost
be more true for
obsessively. I don’t think I ever
designer Coralie- read it, I just loved it as an object.
Bickford Smith who http://tinyurl.com/muffinthemule
Publisher: University of London Press,
overcame obstacles London
such as dyslexia, to Binding: Cloth
Illustrator: Molly Blake
work for the world’s
most recognized Do you believe in the saying
‘don’t judge a book by it’s cover’?
and iconic book
In the way that phrase is generally
publisher Penguin. used, yes. In the literal sense,
cover design is all about creating
something that people can judge
books by. There are so many
cues, obvious and subtle, to
give you a sense of whether
you might like this book rather
than the one next to it in the shop.
At the most basic level are genre
conventions - you can spot the
crime from the chick lit from the
business manual without reading
the titles. Obviously you can put a
beautiful jacket on a terrible book
Were you allowed to have much
and vice versa, so in that sense
you shouldn’t judge a book by its
A friend of mine worked with
a designer who was dyslexic
product, a method we expressed
as “Stop Designing Start Playing”. creative freedom - or are you
cover. But a great cover should find - she said he was a great
designer because he didn’t
That’s the way I approach my own art directed? (ie. do you show
the art director your ideas and
a way to inventively but honestly projects, but it’s quite an intuitive
represent the content, so as to see the letters as ‘words’ but process, and having to think formally drawings and he gives you a
images instead. Do you think direction to take?)
entice readers who will appreciate
it - including those who might not
this is a true comment?
about it in order to communicate
it to students was really helpful for It varies from project to project.
realise it until they have the book I think that’s true for me,
but obviously I’ve only ever
me. It reinforced my belief in the My Art Director, Jim Stoddart,
is great at balancing creative
in their hand. experimental stages of design and
encountered words in the way gave me confidence to spend quite freedom with constructive input
my own mind deals with them a lot of time trying things out and and guidance, and with the
Penguin is such an iconic brand
so I’ve nothing to compare it to. horrors I had a very open brief.
that is known for it’s beautifully making a mess at the start of the
designed covers - are you ever But it’s how I imagine I might horrors project. That creates an atmosphere in
deal with words differently. It may which I’m comfortable going
daunted by this perception?
allow me a certain playfulness through the experimental stages
That’s why I wanted to work for How much research and how
Penguin. It has such an amazing
with them instead of treating many ideas had you thrown without feeling that everything
them as text. I used to see away before settling on the I produce at that stage has to
design heritage and takes design
dyslexia as a weakness but now I concepts for the book covers? be a viable solution in its own
very seriously. To work in that
consider it a strength. I might Loads. I still have a drawer stuffed right. Nothing gets designed in
kind environment is a privilege.
Of course the reputation can be
see things in a different/unusual with all the things I tried - lino isolation though - design is about
way, and come at something cuts, crazy type treatments, all communication and feedback is
a daunting thing to try and live
from a different angle. sorts. Some of it is terrible, some a crucial part of the process.
up to at times, but it’s also an
inspiration and a motivation to is ok, and a lot of it bears no
do the best work I can. I loved the covers of the gothic resemblance to the final covers,
novel series of Penguin books but without that process I wouldn’t
you designed. How did you have ended up where I did.
start your creative process
when coming up with the
book covers?
Thanks its nice to hear you
liked them. At the time as I was
doing some teaching at London
College of Communication with
tutor Wendy Chapel. Wendy and
I were trying to get students to
engage in the creative process
without focusing on a final
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Coralie Bickford-Smith
I am so pleased someone
is bringing back the art of
cyanotypes! I thought they were
a dying art. I love their ethereal
quality - was this part of the
appeal for you as well?
Absolutely. One of the inspirations
that led me in this direction was
Romek Marber’s iconic Penguin
crime series. His photograms
combine graphic simplicity with a
fantastic atmospheric quality, and
I thought a similar approach would
work well for the horror books.
The ethereal effect of the texture
and line you get with cyanotypes
made it the perfect medium for
these ghostly tales, and the fact
that this early photographic process
was contemporary with some of
the titles made it irresistable.
Our next issues theme
is ‘communication’.
How difficult is it in book
design to communicate a
story through your imagery?
Book covers communicate
several stories simultaneously.
Sometimes that can include very
literal representations of characters
and incidents, such as with the
Boys’ Adventure series, but those
illustrations also communicate
a sense of period that taps into
a particular nostalgia, reinforced
with type and restricted colour
palette, which also communicates
the idea that these books belong
together as a set. Other covers
don’t take such a literal approach How do you think the
to representing the content of introduction of e-book
the book, but communicate more reading devices will affect
symbolically. People are exposed the publishing world?
to an incredible amount of How long have you got? This is
visual imagery, and an important a massive subject, but the short
function of cover design is to answer is they will have a huge
contextualise a book within the impact. The technology and
sophisticated visual dictionary the user experience will keep
we all carry in our heads. Books improving and will become a major
- especially the classics - have part of how we consume text of
such a wealth of material to work all kinds. Publishers will still have
with that the difficulty isn’t so a crucial role, but distribution
much communicating the story in and pricing models are bound to
images, but deciding which story change. Having said all that, I’m
to communicate. confident that demand for books
as physical objects will remain.
In your opinion even if it’s a
great book to read will a badly And lastly what words of
designed cover affect its sales? wisdom would you give to
In a lot of cases I would say that’s someone wanting to get into
absolutely true. There are so many designing book covers?
books published every month Immerse yourself in book design,
and many of them will have no look at what’s out there and see
marketing apart from the cover. what works for you and what
Of course if a book has a great doesn’t, and best of all, what
reputation, or is by a very popular nobody has thought of yet that you
author, it will have a guaranteed can bring to the table. Be bold and
audience who will seek it out imaginative and let your passion
regardless of what is on the cover. show through in your work.
But for impulse purchases, and in
cases where several editions of www.cb-smith.com
the same title are available, the
cover is crucial.
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Coralie Bickford-Smith
 What do you like about
submitting work to Re_action?
I remember the days when you
couldn’t find a space to show your
work and here in Guatemala it was
even worst, so for me the internet,
and all this media revolution, was
what I was waiting for all this years.
The chance to submit my creations
and have this crazy feeling that
somebody maybe on the other
side of the world is going to love
or hate your work. It’s amazing
that you don’t need to go to the
galleries begging for space. Now
you just have to take your time, do
good work, and wait for the next
submission dead line - then wait to
see your work published. That is a
very delightful feeling for me.
HERE'S MY WORK... FEATURE ARTIST ALVARO SANCHEZ
What do you like about the
Blanket community?
Coming from a country like mine it
is very difficult to get a chance to
be seen. or to be shown with other
artists. It is refreshing to know that
your work fits in with a community
like Blanket Mag. A lot of amazing
work comes from different parts
of the world. I receive tons of
feedback, and it makes me grow as
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blanket magazine
Alvaro Sanchez
an artist. Another important thing to
mention is that Blanket Magazine
is one of the most constant and
consistent online magazines I ever
take part in. I love to see that you
guys take this seriously, and the
fact that it helps a lot of artists like
me to have the chance to showcase
our work, makes the Blanket
community and magazine one of
my favourite magazines.
What inspires your art?
I guess inspiration for me and for
any artist comes from everything
around, in my case there are some
basic sources I get my inspiration.
One is definitely music, I’m a
music junkie, I have a big music
collection. I can’t design without
music (actually as I answer this The ALVARO SANCHEZ HAS
Beatles are on the background).
BEEN SUBMITTING WORK
Music, in my case, is a very big TO BLANKETS RE_ACTION
part of the creative process. Some SECTION SINCE OUR THIRD
times I choose the music too ISSUE. WE ASK HIM WHAT HE
create a certain mood to design LIKES ABOUT BLANKET (OH
to. I particularly love to design with AND SOME STUFF ABOUT
music like Tom Waits, Nick Cave, HIMSELF AS WELL...)
Joy Division, a lot of garage rock
bands, a little bit of punk, and a lot
of post punk and classics like
Chopin too just to name a few.
It’s incredible how music dictates
a lot of the final results. Also
literature is another amazing
source. One of the last books
I read was After Dark by Haruki
Murakami. The book for me was
very cinematographic, and there
were some times while reading
that certain images just detonated
in my mind and gave me the
“neurostarter” (that’s what I like
to say) to go and create. Films
too definitely are an influence.
I like a lot of old movie classics
like Godard, Pasolini, Fellini, and
a more contemporary films like
Jarmusch or David Lynch. The
biggest influence I guess is my
city, Guatemala. It’s a huge box
of surprises, it’s weird, it’s crazy,
it’s wild, it’s violent... Living in
this city has had a huge impact
on my personal point of view of
everything. The streets are full of
a very special graphic code which
is a trademark on Latin American
countries. Everything is so kitsch,
you just have to take a ride in the
oldest part of the city to see it. The
signs, the logos, everything is a
big ode to the kitsch and bad taste.
But at the same time that’s what
makes this city so cool. I know is
not the best tourist propaganda
for my country but it is what it
is. Guatemala is a big inspiration
despite the fact I have this love/
hate feeling to this city. And last
but not less important, painting.
I love to check on the new design I saw the work of Jake and Dinos
trends but my real inspiration Chapman, Damien Hirst, Takashi
comes from the old masters, the Murakami, Maurizio Cattelan, just
old paintings movements, like to name a few. I was shocked
nonrealistic, DADA, surrealism etc. to see their amazing artwork,
for example Francis Bacon work is especially the Chapman brothers
the most inspirational source. work. It was shocking, in a good
Works by Basquiat, Duchamp, way. They are not afraid to take art
Andre Breton, Warhol are definitely to the extreme, and that’s when
an influence in my work. I prefer to I decided to do what my instinct
study the painting movements than tells me to do. The other big lesson
new design trends. I mean nothing is ‘work, work, work’ - never stop
is original anymore. It is working. I remember Francis
a nonexistent thing now a days so Bacon´s quote ‘inspiration comes
I think at some point you have to from constant work.’
come back to the basics
www.redbubble.com/people/
What would you like your art to sanchezisdead
express about you?
I never really thought about
it. I create because I have an
undeniable thirst for creation.
I mean I don’t create for people
to have a certain idea about me, I
want them to focus on the art work
rather than the artist.
What have you learned from
another artist lately?
Ohh a lot!! Rather than new ways
to do things I have learned valuable
lessons like ‘do what you really
want to, with out putting limits on
yourself’. Do what your instincts tell
you no matter if it going to shock
people or not. I learnt this some
years ago when I was in Venezia,
Italy and I saw a huge expo in the
Palazzo Grassi. It was the first time
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Alvaro Sanchez
Here’s my work... Rui Sousa

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Here’s my work...
 Here’s my work... Rodolfo Vanmarcke

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Here’s my work...
Here’s my work... Selin Yurdakul

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Here’s my work...
Here’s my work... Alexey Durasov

Here’s my work... Morgan Maher

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Here’s my work...
Sarah Cuningham

Here’s my work... Ali Collins

Here’s my work... Sasha Solovjova

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Here’s my work...
craft-e
...our spot to introduce you
to the talented people behind
the web stores
you know and love.

Amy Ng from Pikaland Lara Cameron from “Kirinote” Meighan O’Toole from “My love for Alarna Zinn from Little Jane Street
you is a stampede of horses”
A blogger’s
life is all about “LIvINg the “textiles, design “Illustration, street art, craft, “uNIque,
communication— illustrated life...” ANd crAft...” d.I.Y cuLture”. hand designed stationery”
sharing their How long have you been blogging for? How long have you been blogging for? How long have you been blogging for? How long have you been blogging for?
innermost thoughts I’ve been blogging for about three years I started blogging properly since March 2006 I have been blogging on and off for 3 and a I have been writing the Little Jane St blog for
now, two on my personal blog, www. - so almost exactly 3 years I guess! half years. “My Love for You...” has been going almost 1 year - phew, seems like I started last
and their daily remakeables.com and one year on my art steady for about a year and a half now. week, must be having fun!
happenings with & illustration blog, www.pikaland.com. What makes a good blog?
I’d say good photography is first and What makes a good blog? What makes a good blog?
the rest of us! What makes a good blog? foremost! But then right after that - Hands down it’s passion and original content. I generally enjoy reading blogs of the design
There are lots of things that make a personality and good writing. I’m still not very Blogging is very time consuming, and it is variety and look for visual beauty and inspiration
And some extra good blog. I personally prefer blogs that good at the good writing bit but I try to keep really easy to lose steam if you are not driven to accompany my early morning coffee. What I
clever bloggers either entertain, inform me of the latest it friendly and personal(ish?). and focused. I constantly have to psych myself believe to make a good blog would be unique
happenings, or one that is simply inspiring. up to get posts done in a timely manner! thoughts, a down to earth nature, sincerity,
also pepper their The voice of the blogger is very important Describe your blog’s vibe in 5 words. Coffee also helps, lots of it! honesty and a creative spirit - and of course lots
musings with to me as well, and I prefer reading happy Ooh gosh, that’s a tough one! I’m trying to of pretty pictures to drool over!
blogs the most. imagine how it might seem from the outside. Describe your blog’s vibe in 5 words.
beatiful and Friendly, personal(ish), inspiring, open, Color, Inspiration and Passion. Three seems Describe your blog’s vibe in 5 words.
arty things that Describe your blog’s vibe in 5 words. textile-ey. like a good place to end! A creative journey I am taking.....
Pikaland is...Happy, friendly, community-
they either make based, inspiring, encouraging. What do you advertise/promote/sell on What do you advertise/promote/sell on What do you advertise/promote/sell on
themselves or your blog? your blog? your blog?
What do you advertise/promote/sell on My own range of hand screen printed At the moment I do have advertising space on The Little Jane St blog was fundamentally
promote for others. your blog? textiles, and also my yardage screen printing the blog...that’s available on a monthly basis. set up to show a behind the scenes look into
I sell PikaPackages: quarterly randomly studio Ink & Spindle which I run with two The blog’s main focus is on art, and usually the workings and projects of my stationery
packages bursting with goodies from other creative ladies Bianca and Tegan. what comes with that for many working design business. I often feature vintage finds,
It’s what we love artists and illustrators. It’s a promotion tool artists today is product. So the blog is always patterns, textures and whatever else that
best at blanket, (it launches with a giveaway!) and also a What do you have on your blog right promoting artist’s work whether it be actual art inspires me along my journey. I like to show
community where participating artists also now to drive blanket readers crazy or items and prints in their online shops. what I am working on, both personal crafting
which is why we’ve get a package in return filled with items with joy? projects and upcoming working projects,
from their peers. The packages left over What do you have on your blog right now events and stationery products that will soon
devoted this are then up for sale to cover the costs of
Lots of unique, hand screen printed textiles
be available through my online store.
for sale in the Ink & Spindle shop - constantly to drive a blanket reader crazy with joy?
craft-e to some running the project, and there’s only very changing in colour & design & basecloth. Gosh, well I think pretty much anything on “My
limited packs available for each round. love for you...” could make Blanket readers What do you have on your blog right now
of our favourite kirinote.blogspot.com
to drive a blanket reader crazy with joy?
111 112
go crazy...so many artists and links to just get
blogging beauties! What do you have on your blog right lost in! Everyday the blog features artists and Right now I am excited to be showcasing
now that would drive a blanket reader crafters making art and being creative in some some new products. I very recently did a
blanket magazine
Craft_e: {Bloggers}

crazy with joy? form or another. Just writing that makes me
A PikaPackage! See more in our shop! really excited! I want to get off the computer
and go make something right now...ha!
www.pikaland.com
myloveforyou.typepad.com
sneak peek of a range of vintage inspired
natural ribbon that I designed - hopefully you
will like it!
littlejanest.blogspot.com
Web_sight
by david self
Communication huh?
Yeah the internet can do
some of that. Email, instant
messenger, social networking,
blogging, vlogging, twittering,
VOIP, forums...

www.yourfonts.com www.passiveaggressivenotes.com

Nobody writes letters anymore. And if you’ve ever opened up an envelop to
find crisp, personalised stationery lined with smooth looping caligraphy oozing
class or roughly folded reams, scrawled and scratched with intensly passionate
and personal machinations, you’ll understand why I think it’s such a tragedy.
Handwriting fascinates me and at yourfonts.com, if you can use a scanner, you can
easily turn your own handwriting into a .ttf font file and install it on your computer.
Imagine sending all your emails in your own script, or modding your desktop theme
so all the text is written in your significant other’s hand. Pretty cool right?
So you live in a share house and you notice that someone keeps drinking your
milk. Do you a) introduce a “special ingredient” and laugh maniacally when you
spill the beans to the horrified milk thief b) call a house meeting and calmly
explain that this milk is your milk and it’s only fair that everyone buy their own milk
or c) get really angry about it in private and leave a post-it on the milk bottle asking
the unknown milk thief to knock it off. This is a website dedicated to all those
Cs out there.

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www.uniqlo.jp/uniqlock/ www.meebo.com www.najle.com/idaft

“What time is it?” probably one of the most asked questions in the world. Sure
you can answer with a series of numbers or “half past whatever”, but what kind of
communication issue would this be if I didn’t show you a cooler way to find out the
time? A crappy one, that’s right. UNIQLOCK sure is a unique clock. It uses music,
colour, fashion, architecture, and even dance to tell you the time! The more you
watch, the more clever little details you’ll notice.
So if you’re anything like me, you use instant messenger a lot. It’s free, it’s easy
to set up and find your friends and it’s more relaxed than email. But msn or aim
or yahoo chat, everyone uses a different client and if you want to talk to them
you’ve gotta download a bunch of programs and unless you’re on your own
computer it’s kind of a hassle. Unless you use meebo. Meebo runs right inside
your web browser so you can use it anywhere with a net connection, and best of
all, you can log into all of your chat accounts at once! MSN, AIM, ICQ, yahoo chat,
myspace chat, facebook and gmail chat all in the same window.
And now for something pointless and fun. Ever wanted to recreate a daft punk
song? Ever had the urgent, insatiable need to answer simple questions in a robot
voice? I know I have. And now, with the daft punk console, you can. Communicate
whether you want your steak “harder”, “better”, “faster” or “stronger” with the
touch of a qwerty keyboard. Open the page, let it load to 100 and press “make it”,
then giggle with nerdy glee as you bash away at your keyboard.

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PIC SHAWS
by Jeff Stephens
INTRODUCING ‘PIC
SHAWS’ (THE CUTEST
COMIC STRIP EVER!) by
jeff stePHENS.
Jeff just happens
to be our brand new
regular contributor
to blanket magazine
and we are very
excited to have him
on the team!
I think you will
agree he’s whimsical
characters ‘0’ AND ‘o‘
ARE AN excellent
addition to blanket!
CLASSIFIED WANT TO BE A SHOW OFF?

www.curiousllama.etsy.com
ADS FOR $15! Über-kitsch handmade
INTRODUCING A BRAND NEW
ADVERTISING INITIATIVE
BE SEEN BY OVER 20,000 jewellery featuring

www.madeit.com.au
vintage kimono fabric, BROUGHT TO YOU BY
BLANKET READERS ALL ribbons, buttons and felt. TWO OF YOUR FAVOURITE
OVER THE WORLD! Perfect for whatever life INDEPENDANT MAGAZINES -
throws at you...
BLANKET AND MANKIND MAG!
DOWNLOAD OUR AD KIT TO FIND
JUST ONE OUT HOW YOU AND YOUR WARES
CAN BE SEEN BY THOUSANDS OF
CLICK! OUR ENTHUSIASTIC READERS!

A. M I?
sarah-sculley.pdf 24/2/09 9:50:33 PM

I’M A
..
O F

HO
F

W
C

W
Y

CM

H O
MY

CY

CMY

sweet hand-painted gifts

www.nushkadolls.com

S
Artist: Katie Wilson
exclusive
limited
edition
and one
OF a kind
pieces FROM
EMERGING
ARTISTS AND
DESIGNERS. artists, photographers, designers and crafters...
get ready for your closeup

presented to you by:

m a gazine.com
Who Who Who Who Who Who Who
Betsy & iya Variation Nadirah Bostick at Suzannemade Melissa Cunningham Benconservato Liz Kalloch / Athena Dreams
What What Aquarian Thoughts Lissa Rose Designs What What
What
Old house numbers Little handmade dolly made What A sweet little unicorn and What ‘Perplexed Monkey 01’ “Flying in Spite of
become the sexy of vintage lucite and glass 14k Gold-filled Growing three colorful crystals Original Abstract Painting An original piece created Everything” print of original
adoornment to your beads. Plays guitar. Tree Earrings.... organically dangle from a silver chain. on 8x 8” Canvas Board with gouache and ink on mixed media painting
favorite address. How much? handmade with love. How much? Fabriano 3030 Etching Paper. How much?
How much?
How much? $15 (US) How much? $35 (US) $80 (US) How much? $10 (US)
$45 (US) Website $75 (US) Website $60 (US) Website
Website
Website www.variation.etsy.com Website www.suzannemade.com www.LissaRoseDesigns. Website www.athenadreams.etsy.
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Who Who Who Who Who Who Who

Sloe Gin Fizz Sumaiya Potts from Caroline Hancox Photography PterodactylPants Natalie Prikhodko from Something Else Perhaps AnnLuise - illicitly beautiful!
What Najmuthakib What What everyday-wonders What What
‘DREAMING’ What Beautiful photographic Giant handmade plush What “PRETTY” Custom A necklace, a ring and
Archival print of original Najmuthakib’s Signature print of an original polaroid. Maggot, creepy, adorable, ‘Pure + Simple’ - Fine art Made-To-Order Upcycled earrings match a misterious
drawing. Solitaire Necklace 7x7 inches, professionally and perfect for snuggling. photographic print on Vintage Glass Plate Mirror gleaming set.
How much? “a mix of ball chain and printed, archival quaility. How much? archival qualitypaper. How much? How much?
sparkling gems” How much? How much?
$22 (US) $40 (US) $24 (US) $129 (US)
How much? £25 (GBP) $15 (US)
Website Website Website Website
$35 (US) Website
www.sloeginfizz.etsy.com Website www.pterodactylpants. www.windshine.etsy.com www.annluise.etsy.com
Website www.en.dawanda.com/shop/ etsy.com www.everyday-wonders.
www.najmuthakib.etsy.com carolinehancox com/shop
Who Who Who Who Who Who Who
Something Else Perhaps Orchids Dream by Karine Ardault Photography Rhymes with Orange Ali J Art & Illustration Minta77 Miss Crowland
What Emily Bittner and Mixed-Media What What What
What
Original Custom What What Rhymes with Orange Limited edition print of 100 Earrings with bold orange Custom Couple Portraits
Word/Text Portrait - Scarlet Damask Ponytail Original fine art photograph Adorable 1970s vintage of an original illustration jade drops and raspberry How much?
‘Look Closely’ Holder of Zanzibar wooden sundress. Perfect for measuring 8.5” x 11.5” swirl glass flowers
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How much? How much? How much? How much?
How much? Lively and fun. Website
$300 USD $9.50 (US) $66 (AUD) $22 (US)
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www.windshine.etsy.com www.orchidsdream.etsy.com www.shop.alijart.com www.minta77.etsy.com
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Who Who Who Who Who Who Who

Ciao, Chessa! MeanderThroughLIfe Nina Renee Designs. Emily August Plywerk Softspoken by Suzannemade
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photography print shop of a original painting done Swarovski crystal bridal as well as vintage clothing on 8x8 maple or bamboo Chain drop circle scarves with stone, glass and gold
by emerging artist by Heather Jerdee. cuff bracelet. and housewares plywood. How much? charms - so pretty!
Monica L. Shulman. How much? How much? How much? How much? How much?
$15-35 (US)
How much? $15 (US) $210 (US) $2 to $4 (US) $30 (US) (depending upon length) $20 (US)
$35 (US) Website Website Website Website
Website Website
Website www.MeanderThroughLife. www.ninareneedesigns. www.emilyaugust.etsy.com www.plywerk.com www.softspoken.etsy.com www.suzannemade.com
www.ciaochessa.etsy.com etsy.com etsy.com
 Next Issue
How to Contribute
Here’s my work, I hope you like it:
There are many ways for you to General gallery of work
become a part of Blanket, read
below to find out how... Each issue we show off emerging creatives and
we want you! Send in your original artwork,
Re_action
design or photography.
Next theme is “PORTRAIT”
If sending multiple images please place them in a
Each issue we give you a specific theme and we Folder with your full name and number the images
want you to submit a piece of original work that (eg. Bec_Brown_01, Bec_Brown_02, and so on...
reacts to this theme! Use your creative skills and otherwise I might mix them up and credit someone
your imagination! else with your work!)
Include in your emails: Please do not just send your personal URL’s as
1. Your original image created for re_action I receive so many submissions I don’t have time to
(a maximum of 1 image please) review them all. You are more likely to have your work
published if you make it as easy as possible for me.
2. Full name
Please send examples of your artwork and follow my
3. Country of residence image specifications below.
3. Title of piece (if any)
Include in your emails:
File submission: 1. Your image/s of work (a maximum of 6 please)
Filenames: firstname_lastname.jpg 2. Full name
All images to be RGB - PDF or JPG 3. Country of residence
Landscape 4. A relevant website (or any other URL) address
1020 x 624 pixels OR 360 x 220mm @ 72dpi where readers can see more of your work.

Portrait File submission:

510 x 624 pixels OR 180 x 220mm @ 72dpi Filenames: firstname_lastname.jpg
Square All images to be RGB - PDF or JPG
624 x 624 pixels OR 220 mm x 220 mm @ 72dpi
Landscape
Email: re_action [at] blanketmagazine.com 1020 x 624 pixels OR 360 x 220mm @ 72dpi
Portrait
eyes
The Portrait Issue 16
510 x 624 pixels OR 180 x 220mm @ 72dpi
ears Square
nose 624 x 624 pixels OR 220 mm x 220 mm @ 72dpi

face Email: inspire [at] blanketmagazine.com

body See the Blanket website for more info
skin www.blanketmagazine.com
dna Please note: By sending in a submission you are allowing
Blanket magazine to reproduce this image/s for the particular
125 126 section it has been submitted for. Unfortunately not all work
can be guaranteed a place in the magazine due to high
demand, time and space issues. All copyright belongs solely
to the artists and no images from this magazine are to be
used without the artists prior permission. Blanket accepts no
responsibility for the copyright of artworks used.
 t
h
a n ks
And finally those who have been uncovered...
A big thanks to everyone who has contributed to issue 15 of Blanket! Thankyou
Jeremy Grant Cate Furey Disclaimer: Please note no part of
THE BLANKET TEAM CONTRIBUTORS Rose Lazar
Blanket magazine can be re-produced
Jessica White Jess Smiley Cristina Amodeo without first seeking the permission
Blanket contributing A big thanks to all our from the publishers. All submissions
designers Catherine Ryan Jonathan Wilson Danny McCran
interviewees: to Blanket magazine are protected by
Bec Brown Will Bryant Anna Corpron & Sean Auyeung Joseenrique Veloccia Dario Vigil copyright which belongs solely to the
from Sub-studio Kara Santos EXO artist. No images from this magazine
Caitlin Gahan Coralie Bickford-Smith
are to be used without the artists
Melissa Gardner Betsy Walton Re_action Lens Tyomkin Jess Ganocha prior permission. Blanket accepts
Drew Fellows Alvaro Sanchez Alex Kirkwood Michael Lewis Julia Martinez Diana no responsibility for the copyright of
artworks used.
‘Someguy’ from 1000 Projects Aliirfaan Nujjoo Nicole Tattersall Katrin Kirojood
Blanket contributing
writers Becky & Louise from Alvaro Sanchez Pako Arellano (aka KOSUC) Marcelo Granero
Caitlin Gahan Good Wives & Warriors Anthony Zinonos Pam Golafshar Marco Eychenne
Jessica Wilson Sandrea Simons Ben Perkins Pierre-Paul Pariseau Mario Sughi
Jonathan Hulme Miss Bloom - Hotel Bloom Dan Hallett Sarah Holmes Morgan Maher
Lindsay Green Marion Flipse Djordje Joksimovic Sarah Watts Mundocaco
David Self Frank from Post Secret Dorothea Huber Tan Shiang Chin Nicole Tattersall
Bec Brown Alex Kirkwood Elisabetta Gon Tennur Bas Rodolfo Vanmarcke
Amy Ng Emilie Garcin Vanessa Letts Rui Sousa
Blanket Cover Image Lara Cameron Fabelis Yuen Xelia Sarah Carter
Will Bryant
Meighan O’Toole Federico Salvador Sasha Solovjova
Here’s my work...
Blanket Font Alarna Zinn Felix Rodriguez I hope you like it: Selin Yurdakul
Manuel Viergutz Helen Entwisle (aka Memo) Alexey Durasov Thomas Tibitanzl
The Pass it On Project
Jessica Goldfond Igor Milanovic Ali Collins Veronica Romanenghi
Blanket Illustration Isobel Blake Andrea Gonbelt
Shawn Creeden
Claire Cimbora
Jessica Gonacha Ita Serka Ashlie Chavez

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